MA International Studies Personal Purpose Statement
- Robert Edinger
- Jun 18, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago

I grew up in Armenia until I was 14 and then spent a year living in Russia. At 15, my family and I moved to the USA. I started learning English and Russian as a young child, which is why I am nearly fluent in both languages. My main goal for my professional future is to assist the former USSR republics, particularly Armenia, in achieving economic development, enhancing human rights, and progressing towards greater participation in the global economy. Similar to other developing regions, advancements in these areas are often driven by NGOs rather than governments. Your program is my top choice for graduate school because it is specifically designed to prepare professionals to contribute to NGO efforts or pursue diplomatic careers.
I am eager to learn all I can about international cooperation and conflict resolution, and how to foster mutual respect and cross-cultural understanding among nations, particularly those historically in conflict, like Armenia and Azerbaijan. I aim to delve deeply into the role of NGOs in cultural, political, and economic development.
All former Soviet Union republics, including Russia, face numerous serious challenges. Therefore, I hope to focus on this region, conducting comparative analyses of the trajectories, successes, and failures of these neighboring countries. I have traveled extensively, not only in Russia but also in the Baltic states, Georgia, and Ukraine. I've also visited Turkey and Finland, both of which, especially Turkey, play crucial political roles in this area.
I am particularly interested in studying the central social and political issues addressed by your program, such as global change and international development, which have emerged due to historical international relations patterns. I view the world as undergoing a significant transition marked by increased interdependence due to the growing interconnectedness of nations. The inclusion of a six-month internship and/or study abroad experience in your program is also very appealing to me.
My long-term aspiration is to build a successful career as a diplomat or work with NGOs. Therefore, I seek an advanced understanding of how both governmental and non-governmental organizations operate. My professional experience as a corporate paralegal in a multi-billion dollar publicly traded company (NYSE: HCP) has improved my communication and teamwork skills, working with people from diverse backgrounds in areas like tax, accounting, law, investment, and treasury.
My education at a world-class research university with a renowned political science department has further prepared me to excel in your program. I have been developing my multicultural sensitivities since childhood. Growing up in Armenia, I enjoyed Turkish chewing gum and played with Chinese game consoles, while witnessing a nation recovering from the 1988 earthquake that claimed thousands of lives. Even as a child, I observed how the world united to help us despite Cold War tensions. In a Soviet-style secondary school, we used both Russian and English textbooks. I preferred the latter: Shakespeare, Conan Doyle, and Alexander Dumas, among others. My intellectual growth was also significantly influenced by my father's unjust detention and torture by the State Police for opposing the corruption in the newly independent Armenian republic.
From an early age, multiple cultures and international conflicts have shaped my life and identity. This is why I strongly believe that my greatest contribution to society would be to enhance international cooperation by improving how nations interact, both through foreign policy development and cultural exchanges via NGOs. I want to dedicate my professional life to promoting respect for cultural differences and building bridges between nations, aiming for greater harmony, solidarity, and cooperation in the future, and reducing hostility, hatred, conflict, and tension, much of which stems from misunderstandings and communication failures.
MA International Studies Personal Purpose Statement Editing






This statement offers a powerful, thoughtful, and deeply compelling portrait of someone whose worldview has been shaped by lived experience across cultures, political systems, and historical moments. What makes it especially strong is the way your personal history and professional aspirations align so naturally—you’re not simply choosing a field of study, you’re stepping into work that feels like a continuation of your own life story.
Your multicultural background stands out immediately. Growing up in Armenia, spending time in Russia, and then immigrating to the United States at 15 has given you a rare combination of linguistic fluency, cultural adaptability, and firsthand understanding of post‑Soviet realities. That alone would make you a valuable contributor to any international studies program, but you…